Broom and mop combination and methods for converting a broom to mop

ABSTRACT

A flexible fabric is provided for converting a broom into a mop. The flexible fabric has a center hole and a periphery region sufficiently large to cover the bristles of a broom. The center hole is sized so as to receive a traditional broom handle, but the center hole is sufficiently small so that it will not allow passage of the broom bristles. In use, the broom handle is projected through the flexible fabric&#39;s center hole and the fabric&#39;s edge is positioned downwardly so as to extend beyond the ends of the broom bristles so that the fabric&#39;s periphery region covers the broom bristles. Preferably, the flexible fabric is provided in a prepackaged format having a plurality of flexible fabrics which are saturated with a cleansing solution. Thus, the broom and fabric combination provide a mop construction which can be used for cleaning surfaces.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 61/742,628 filed on Aug. 15, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fabrics for cleaning. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to disposable fabric sheetsfor cleaning a floor surface. Even more particularly the presentinvention relates to cleaning sheets for converting a broom into a mop.

Due to health and sanitation concerns, residential homes and businessbuildings must be routinely cleaned. Typical cleaning instrumentsinclude brooms, mops, cloth rags, paper towels and the like. A broom isa well known implement used for sweeping dirt or other particulates to alocation for being gathered by a dust pan or vacuum cleaner. A broom hasan elongate handle which is typically 2-6 feet in length and has abundle of twigs or synthetic bristles affixed to one end of the handle.

Sponge mops are well known and widely used for cleaning floors such ashardwood floors, tile floors, marble flats and the like. Sponge mopsalso include an elongate handle and a disposable cleaning pad having alayer of sponge material. The sponge material is typically moistureabsorbent for absorbing moisture on the floor or for accepting acleaning solution for being applied to the floor. The mop typically hasan attachment structure for attaching the cleaning pad to the handle.After being used a selected number of times, the cleaning pad is eithercleaned, such as within a dishwasher, or more likely to be discarded andreplaced with a refill cleaning pad. Typical sponge materials arenatural sponges, polyester foams, polyurethane foams or other syntheticfibers.

Typical sponge mops include the butterfly mop, roller mop and squeezemop. The squeeze mop includes a back plate which can be swivelled toengage and squeeze the sponge portion of the mop. Meanwhile, butterflymops include a pair of hinged wing plates which can open and close toengage and squeeze water from the cleaning pad. Roller mops include apair of rollers wherein the cleaning pad can be forced between the tworollers to squeeze liquid from the sponge.

Planar sheets are also well known for cleaning surfaces. Rectangularcloths, often referred to as rags, are often saturated with a cleaningsolution such as water and soap and then wiped upon dirty surfaces toremove dirt and other particulates. These cloths are either thrown awayor cleaned such as within a washing machine. Disposable sheets forcleaning are also well known. For example, paper towels are used toabsorb unwanted spills. Paper towels are also used by saturating themwith a cleaning solution and then wiping the paper towel over dirtysurfaces.

Unfortunately, all of these cleaning supplies suffer from seriousdrawbacks. Brooms merely move dry particulates from one area of a floorsurface to another. A broom will not pick up or adhere such particulatesfor disposal. Mops require that mop heads be cleaned or replaced withexpensive substitutes. Paper towels and the like require a person bendover for cleaning a floor surface and are thus not advisable forcleaning large floor surfaces. Moreover, it is undesirable to store botha mop and broom as they require a significant amount of storing space.It would be desirable to eliminate one of these.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to one or more flexible fabrics forconverting a broom into a mop-like construction. The flexible fabrics ofthe present invention are used with a traditional broom having anelongate handle with bristles affixed to one end of the handle.Meanwhile, the sheets are a fabric, made of any traditional textile suchas cotton, terry cloth, microfiber, fleece, micro fleece or any othertype of fabric or textile material made from natural or syntheticmaterial having an absorbent or semi-absorbent property. Traditionalterry cloth is considered a preferred material for the fabric because ofits combination of cost effectiveness, weight and absorbency. Moreover,terry cloth cotton is pliable, washable, dryable and can be provided ina wide variety of colors.

The fabric is flexible and has a center hole which is sized for slidablyreceiving the broom handle so that the broom handle can be projectedthrough the fabric's center hole. However, the fabric's center hole issufficiently small so as to engage the bristles. The fabric further hasa periphery region which extends outwardly from the fabric's centerhole. The periphery region is sufficiently large so as to be able tocover the bristles of a broom. The flexible fabric may be rectangular orcircular in shape. Where the fabric is circular, it is preferred thatthe fabric have a radius between 15 and 32 inches depending on thelength of the broom bristles. Wherein the flexible fabric isrectangular, preferred dimensions include 26 inches×15 inches; 32inches×18 inches; 25 inches×15 inches; and 30 inches×15 inches.Preferably, the fabric's center hole has a radius of 1.5-2 inchesradius, as the standard broom handle in the United States market has a 1inch diameter.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexible fabric has a finger loopadjacent to the fabric's center hole. Preferably, the finger loop ispositioned about 1 inch away from the center hole and has a diameter of0.5-2 inches so as to accept one or more fingers for manipulating thefabric. In an alternative embodiment, the fabric has two finger loops inwhich each finger loop is positioned on opposite sides of one anotherapproximately 1 inch from the fabric's center hole.

Preferred materials for the finger loop include polypropylene, rayon,cotton, nylon or other traditional textiles.

In preferred embodiments, the flexible fabric is constructed andpackaged so as to be inexpensive and disposable. For example, in apreferred embodiment, the flexible fabrics are packaged in sets of 20,50, 100, 200 or even more. Various packaging known to those skilled inthe art can be employed for allowing users to select and retrieve asingle fabric from the packaging for use in converting a broom to a mop.In still an additional embodiment, the packaging storing a plurality offlexible fabrics is also affixed to a broom for being sold together as akit. The kit allows one to use the broom individually for itstraditional use in sweeping up dirt and the like. Flexible fabrics canbe retrieved from the packaging for use with the broom to convert thebroom into a mop for use of the combination as a mop to clean floorsurfaces and the like.

To convert the broom into a mop, one simply slides the broom handlethrough the fabric's center hole until the fabric's periphery regionengages the broom's bristles, or a mounting construction which affixesthe bristles in place. The fabric's peripheral region is then drapedover the bristles so that the bristles are entirely covered orsubstantially covered. The broom and flexible fabric combination is thenused in the manner of a traditional mop.

Advantageously, the bristles provide additional stiffness for thefabric's periphery region for better cleaning floor surfaces.

The broom and mop combination provides an efficient and cost effectivealternative to a traditional bucket and mop combination.

The broom and flexible fabric combination alleviates the need for atraditional mop.

Still an additional advantage of the present invention is that theflexible fabric can be easily cleaned in a traditional washing machinewhereas traditional mop heads cannot. Alternatively, the flexible fabriccan be provided in disposable constructions and in packaging storing alarge number of flexible fabrics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard broom and a flexible fabricillustrating the center hole wherein the broom is to be pushed throughfor attachment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a standard broom being pushed through aflexible fabric for attachment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flexible fabric attached to astandard broom;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a flexible fabric being removed from astandard broom utilizing finger loops;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flexible fabric being used to mop akitchen floor;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a standard broom and a flexible fabricillustrating the center hole and finger loop wherein the broom is to bepushed through for attachment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a standard broom being pushed through aflexible fabric for attachment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a flexible fabric attached to a standardbroom;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a flexible fabric attached to a standardbroom;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a flexible fabric being used to mop akitchen floor;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a flexible fabric being removed from astandard broom utilizing the finger loop;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cylindrical container for storage offlexible fabrics;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 12 illustratingremoval of a flexible fabric from a cylindrical container;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a box packaging for storage of flexiblefabrics;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative packaging for storage offlexible fabrics; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative method packaging forstorage of flexible fabrics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment of variousforms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described thepresently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe invention and it is not intended to limit the invention to thespecific embodiments illustrated.

With reference to FIGS. 1-14, the present invention is directed tonumerous embodiments including a flexible fabric 1 combined with a broomfor creating a mop; a method of converting a broom into a mop utilizinga flexible fabric; and a kit including one or more flexible fabrics anda broom for creating a mop. In all embodiments, a flexible fabric 1 isemployed. The flexible fabric 1 may be made of any traditional absorbentor semi-absorbent textile. As explained in greater detail below, theflexible fabric may be made to be extremely inexpensive so as to bedisposed of after a single use. Preferred materials for a disposablefabric include non-woven fabrics similar to those typically used forbaby wipes and dryer sheets. These traditional fabrics are made by aprocess that presses a single sheet of material from a mass of separatefibers. Fibers such as cotton and rayon are often used in this processas well as plastic resins including polyester, polyethylene andpolypropylene.

Where the flexible fabric is made to be reusable and cleaned after use,it is preferred that the flexible fabric be made of a more durableconstruction such as woven cotton, terry cloth, fleece or other fabric.Terry cloth, with its use of absorbent cotton and uncut loops foradditional absorbency, is considered a preferred reusable material forthe flexible fabric. In addition, the flexible fabric may be provided ina pre-moistened condition so as to be partially or entirely saturatedwith a cleansing solution. Preferably, water is the main moisturizingagent for the fabric. However, preferably the water acts as a carrierfor cleaning detergents, humectants such as propylene, glycol andglycerine to prevent premature drying, and preservatives, such as methyland ethylparabens, to prevent microbial growth. Fragrances may also beadded to the cleansing solution.

A flexible fabric of the present invention has a center hole 3 which issized for inserting a broom handle through the fabric's center hole 3and preferably has a radius of 1.5-2 inches. Moreover, the use of theterm “radius” is not intended to imply that the hole must be circular,and instead the center hole 3 may be elliptical or even a simple slotwherein the elliptical, slotted or other shape can be distorted so as tohave a roughly 1.5-2 inch radius to allow insertion of a standard broomhandle having a 1 inch diameter.

The flexible fabric 1 has a periphery region 5 which extends from theflexible fabric's center hole 3 to the fabric's edge 7. The peripheryregion must be sufficiently large so as to be able to cover the bristlesof a broom. Because the bristles of a broom come in various shapes andsizes, the flexible fabric's periphery region may also be shapeddifferently. As examples, a besom broom has a round bundle of twigsaffixed to an elongate handle. For use with such a broom, it ispreferred that the flexible fabric have a circular edge with asubstantially consistent radius defining the new fabric's peripheryregion 5. A more traditional broom is the “flat broom” which has a flateven trimmed bottom. For such a broom, it is preferred that the flexiblefabric be circular, square or rectangular, but have a sufficientperiphery region so as to cover the bristles of such a broom. Meanwhile,a push broom has a wide bristle area wherein the bristles are typicallyshorter in length. A flexible fabric for a push broom is preferablyrectangular in shape. Where the fabric is circular, it is preferred thatthe fabric have a radius of at least 15 inches, though preferredperiphery regions may have a range of 15 to 32 inches depending on thelength of the broom bristles. Wherein the flexible fabric isrectangular, preferred dimensions include 26 inches×15 inches; 32inches×18 inches; 30 inches×15 inches. The periphery region may alsoinclude reinforcement layer around the circular hole 3 to prevent thefabric from tearing.

Though not required, it is preferred that the flexible fabric include afinger loop 11. The finger loop 11 is simply a loop of flexible materialpositioned about 1 inch away from the fabric's center hole. The loop 11has a diameter sized to accept one or more fingers for manipulating thefabric. Preferred diameters include 0.5-2 inches. Preferred materialsfor the finger loop include polypropylene, rayon, cotton, nylon or othertraditional textiles. In an additional embodiment, the flexible fabric 1has two finger loops with each finger loop positioned at opposing sidesof the flexible fabric's center hole 3.

The flexible fabric is intended for use in converting a traditionalbroom 21 into a mop. A traditional broom has a handle having a proximalend 25 and a distal end 27. Extending from the handle distal end arebristles 29. Depending on the type of broom, the bristles may beattached by simply tying the bristles to the distal end of the broom.However, it is much more common for present day brooms to have amounting structure 31 which affixes to the distal end of the broom butalso affixes the bristles in place. Examples of a bristle mountingstructure can be best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, to convert the broom 1 into amop, one simply slides the proximal end 25 of the broom handle 23through a flexible fabric's center hole 3. The flexible fabric 1 is thenmanually forced downwardly until it engages the broom's bristles 29 forthe broom's bristle mounting structure 31 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and9. As illustrated in FIG. 11 the finger loop 11 may be used to installor remove the flexible fabric 1 without requiring the user to touch thefabric's periphery region 5. Preferably, the fabric's periphery region 5is sufficiently long so as to completely cover the broom's bristles 29,as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. Though flexible fabrics having lessermaterials so as to not cover the bristles entirely may be employed, asillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9, this is not a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Once the broom and flexible fabric have been combined so that thefabric's edge 7 extends beyond the bristles 29, it is preferred thatthis combination be used in the manner of the traditional mop. Where theflexible fabric 1 is provided so as to be saturated with a cleaningsolution in a prepackaged format, the broom can be manipulated so thatthe fabric can simply engage and be wiped across a surface to becleaned. Alternatively, where the fabric is not saturated a cleaningsolution can be applied to the fabric in a prepackaged format, theflexible fabric can be applied with a cleaning solution such as bysimply running the flexible fabric under water, prior to combining itwith the broom. In still an alternative cleansing embodiment, a cleaningsolution can be applied directly to the surface to be cleaned and thenwiped with the broom and flexible fabric combination.

In still an additional preferred embodiment, it is preferred that theplurality of flexible fabric's be prepackaged and sold with a broom toform a kit. For example, it is preferred that any of the packagingembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 12-16 be affixed to a broom handle 21for sale within a store. The kit allows individuals to use the broom ina traditional sense without a flexible fabric, or to install individualflexible fabrics 1 for use in the combination as a mop to clean floorsurfaces.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12-16, it is preferred that where the flexiblefabric is manufactured to be disposable that the flexible fabric beprepackaged in sets of large numbers such as 20, 50, 100 or even moreflexible fabrics. FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment where a plurality offlexible fabrics are provided in a rolled form wherein the flexiblefabrics are rectangular and rolled to reside within cylindricalpackaging. As illustrated in FIG. 13, in this embodiment, individualflexible fabrics can be removed from the packaging 17 through an openingwhich can be closed. Alternative packaging embodiments are illustratedin FIGS. 14-16 which allow removal of individual sheets of flexiblefabric for use, and thereafter allow the packaging to be resealed. Aswould be understood by those skilled in the art, it is preferred thatthe packaging be resealable so as to prevent any cleaning solutionwithin the packaging from evaporating.

While several particular forms of the invention have been illustratedand described, it will be apparent that various modifications can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except bythe following claims. Having described my invention in such terms so asto enable a person skilled in the art to understand the invention,recreate the invention, and practice it, and having presently identifiedthe presently preferred embodiments thereof, I claim:

1. A broom and mop combination comprising: a broom having an elongatehandle having a proximal end and a distal end, said broom further havingbristles extending distally from the distal end of said handle; aflexible fabric having a center hole and a periphery region extendingoutward from said hole, said broom handle projecting through said holeuntil said fabric engages said bristles and said periphery regionsufficiently large so as to substantially cover said bristles.
 2. Thebroom and mop combination of claim 1 further comprising a finger loopaffixed to said flexible fabric adjacent to said hole.
 3. The broom andmop combination of claim 1 wherein said flexible fabric is made ofcotton.
 4. A method of converting a broom into a mop comprising thesteps of: providing a broom having an elongate handle having a proximalend and a distal end, the broom further having bristles extendingdistally from the distal end of the handle; providing a flexible fabrichaving a center hole and a periphery region extending outward from saidhole, the periphery region have an area sufficient to cover the broombristles; positioning the fabric upon the broom wherein broom handleprojects through said hole until said fabric engages said bristles toform a mop construction.
 5. The method of converting a broom into a mopof claim 4 further comprises the step of: cleaning a floor surface bymanually handling the broom handle so as to wipe the flexible fabricagainst the floor surface to adhere dirt in the flexible fabric.
 6. Themethod of converting a broom into a mop of claim 4 wherein the step ofproviding a flexible fabric includes providing a plurality of flexiblefabrics having a center hole and a periphery region in a prepackagedcontainer.
 7. The method of converting a broom into a mop of claim 6wherein the prepackaged flexible fabrics are partially saturated with acleansing solution.
 8. The method of converting a broom into a mop ofclaim 4 wherein flexible fabric has a finger loop adjacent to the centerhole.
 9. A kit for making broom and mop combination comprising: a broomhaving an elongate handle having a proximal end and a distal end, saidbroom further having bristles extending distally from the distal end ofsaid handle; a plurality of flexible fabrics in a prepackaged containerwith each flexible fabric having a center hole and a periphery regionextending outward from said hole and said periphery region beingsufficiently large so as to substantially cover said bristles.
 10. Thekit for making a broom and mop combination of claim 9 wherein each ofsaid flexible fabrics has a finger loop affixed to said flexible fabricadjacent to said center hole.
 11. The kit for making a broom and mopcombination of claim 9 wherein the prepackaged flexible fabrics arepartially saturated with a cleansing solution.